CALGARY - Putting dogs to work to help people in the aftermath of traumatic scenarios is barking up the right tree, so to speak, say several working in the K9 realm in Alberta.

Caber, a yellow Lab was put on the job recently in a Vancouver suburb -- the nation's first police trauma canine.

The two-year-old dog was recently handed its first assignment to help friends of slain Delta Laura Szendrei deal with the grief after the teen was fatally stabbed.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Patrick MacIsaac, program director at the Innisfail-based Police Dog Service Training Centre said the concept is intriguing given canines have proven successful working with everyone from those coping with medical issues to the mentally handicapped and providing companionship for seniors.

MacIsaac said it is not surprising to see another job description added to the canine repertoire.

"I see the potential," he said.

"They are definitely attuned to humans, very smart, very capable animals.

Their potential is hindered only by the lack of understanding of what they are truly capable of."

Calgary police said while the novel-for-Canada approach isn't currently being considered here, the idea sounds like it has merit.

Insp. Paul Cook, who overseas the K9 unit, said dogs have already proven to be a valuable asset in a number of realms and harnessing the animal for yet another job seems a natural fit.

Many U.S. police forces use trauma therapy dogs and Kim Gramlich, Victim Services coordinator with Delta Police and one of Caber's handlers said already early in his career, his calm demeanour and sometimes mere existence has proven cathartic.

"On at least two occasions the mere presence has had people in tears," she said.